Detroit Pistons

Not since 2008 has a Bulls schedule release been met with such modest expectations.

And even that summer carried with it the intrigue and potential of No. 1 pick Derrick Rose, who stormed to Rookie of the Year honors as the Bulls finished 41-41 in Vinny Del Negro's first season with an epic seven-game loss to the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.

The NBA released its 2017-18 schedule Monday. And if the Bulls navigate it at 41-41, they'll far surpass expectations and almost surely make the playoffs in the watered-down Eastern Conference.

That, of course, would jeopardize draft position in the full rebuild that began with the draft-night trade of Jimmy Butler....

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